Heartless

Chapter 9 - Part 13

Thwack!

I hissed in surprise as an iron dagger embedded itself hilt-deep in a tree trunk next to me, the blade cutting through the wood like a knife through warm butter. Judging by the angle that the knife embedded itself in the tree, it had come from just ahead of me and a little to the right. By now, darkness had fallen, meaning I would be able to find the owner of the dagger easily with my enhanced vision.

I yanked the dagger from the tree, flipping it in one hand before throwing it in the direction of my attacker with a calculated flick of my wrist. A meaty thwack echoed through the night as the dagger embedded itself in another tree. That meant I was wrong. Cursing myself, I paid more attention to the scents around me, detecting hints of Nord and some strong Breton. I tried to pinpoint where the scents were coming from, and realised too late that I was outnumbered and surrounded.

My tail flicked anxiously as my attackers stepped out of the shadows, their professional looking black armour contrasting with their skin and the white moonlight, making them seem like only floating heads and hands. A male Breton, getting on in his years, had a large black dog at his side. A female, Nord by the look and scent of her, had a simple steel dagger drawn, her platinum blonde hair shining in the moonlight. A buff Nord was also there, two wicked glass daggers in his hands. The last person to step out of the darkness was a Breton male, prematurely grey hair shining as he stood with a gleaming dwarven sword in one hand and a steel dagger in the other.

'Hand over your valuables and nobody gets hurt.' Growled the leader of the group, the one with the Grey hair.

I instead slung my bow over my back.

'Well?'

The four people stood bewildered as I crouched and made an almighty leap into the air, using my momentum and strong claws to wall run around them using the thick tree trunks. When I landed nimbly back in the centre of the clearing, the whole group was weaponless and lacking in valuables, also conveniently tied up individually.

With that, I escaped into the night.

—

Meanwhile...

'Oh shut up, you old codger, and help her get the dagger in her boot!'

'It's not my fault, is it? I told ya we shoulda' set traps before 'and.' Retorted the eldest of the group.

'Just shut up and help the Lass.'

'Allrigh', allrigh' I'm 'elping!'

'Well hurry up about it, we don't have all night!' Barked the leader.

'That little skeever!' Shrieked the quietest of the group. 'She even took my dagger!'

'Honestly, with a shriek like that, the rope might just unravel anyway.'

'Don' worry, love-'

'DON'T call me "love"!'

'Allrigh', allrigh' keep ya hair on.'

'The others'll come looking in a few hours, don't worry everyone.'

'How can we not worry? That little minx took our weapons!'

'Hey, at least we have the gold.'

'Yeah, she's right. At least we've got the- oh great.'

'Don't tell me she took the gold.'

'She took the gold.'

'I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL ME THAT!'